Central Florida to face another wet week

Published: Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 11:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 11:05 p.m.

More much-needed rain contributed to another wet week in North Florida, and this week should be more of the same, with temperatures hanging around the high 80s, according to the National Weather Service.

"Carry your umbrella with you," meteorologist Sara Chase said Sunday, about the rain this week.

The Ocala area got about 2 inches of rain, spread out evenly throughout the week, she said, but mainly on the weekend. In Gainesville, rainfall for the week was around 1.5 inches.

During the week of Tropical Storm Beryl, for comparison, region got around 3 inches of rain.

The rain, she said, helps with the area's drought, but a certain type is needed, and it needs to be steady.

"We don't need heavy rain events running across the region," Chase said. "What we need is more steady soaking."

She said the weather service monitors the level of the Santa Fe River at the U.S. 129 bridge, and at the most recent reading, it was at 6.18 feet. The river floods at 21 feet.

For the week ahead, Chase said, residents of Ocala and Gainesville can expect seabreeze-driven thunderstorms and scattered showers. Chances of rain for Monday are around 55 to 60 percent, and by Tuesday afternoon go up to 70 percent. Throughout the week, she said, the rain chances are highest in the afternoons.

Temperatures in the region will be in the low 90s, she said, and nighttime lows in the low 70s.

Chase said the weather service isn't monitoring any activity in the tropics that could become storms in the next week or so.

"Nothing is highlighted right now," she said, "but we're definitely keeping an eye out." The National Weather Service issues the official forecast for Alachua County and surrounding areas.

The Star-Banner uses AccuWeather forecasts on its weather page, which are sometimes different than official weather service predictions.

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